Fact Check: President Trump proposed cutting NOAA's budget by 27% in fiscal 2026.

Fact Check: President Trump Proposed Cutting NOAA's Budget by 27% in Fiscal 2026

What We Know

The Trump administration has indeed proposed a significant budget cut for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in fiscal year 2026. Specifically, the proposal includes a cut of approximately $1.7 billion, which translates to about 27% of NOAA's budget. This proposal aims to eliminate nearly all NOAA climate research labs and significantly reduce funding for the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), which would see its budget slashed by $485 million, leaving it with only about $171 million. The cuts would also impact the National Ocean Service and NOAA's climate research grants program, which allocates $70 million annually to academic scientists (Sabin Center for Climate Change Law).

Analysis

The claim that President Trump proposed cutting NOAA's budget by 27% is supported by multiple credible sources. For instance, the internal documents referenced in reports confirm that the proposed cuts are part of a broader strategy to eliminate funding for various climate, weather, and ocean laboratories (Sabin Center for Climate Change Law). Furthermore, Trump's nominee to lead NOAA, Neil Jacobs, explicitly acknowledged his support for the proposed budget cuts during Senate hearings, indicating that the administration views the reallocation of funds from research to operational functions as necessary (GovExec).

However, while the proposal has been confirmed by high-ranking officials within the administration, it is essential to note that such budget proposals require Congressional approval before they can take effect. This means that while the proposal is real, its final implementation is contingent upon legislative action (Federal News Network).

The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is high, as they include official statements from government nominees and detailed reports from established news outlets. The information is corroborated across multiple reports, which strengthens the validity of the claim.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that President Trump proposed cutting NOAA's budget by 27% in fiscal 2026 is accurate. The proposed budget cuts have been detailed in official documents and confirmed by administration officials, including Trump's nominee to lead NOAA. While the proposal is significant, it is still subject to Congressional approval, which adds a layer of uncertainty to its potential enactment.

Fact Check: President Trump proposed cutting NOAA's budget by 27% in fiscal 2026.